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| Heartworm Disease - A Serious Threat |
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The American Heartworm Society (Batavia, Ill.)
Since the first diagnosis of canine heartworm disease over one hundred years
ago, heartworm infection has been widely recognized throughout the world as
one of the major health problems affecting pets today.
Heartworm infection is caused by worms ( Dirofilaria immitis) that may grow to
be 14-inch-long adults. These adult worms live in the right side of the heart and
the arteries of the lungs. Heartworm infection can cause serious damage to
these arteries, eventually leading to heart failure, and in severe cases, damage
to other organs such as the liver and kidneys. Dogs of any age and breed are
susceptible to contracting heartworm disease.
While cats appear to be more resistant to heartworm infection than dogs, with
fewer worms surviving into adulthood, they are still susceptible to infection and
can also suffer from the effects of heartworm disease. However, they do not
contribute significantly to spreading the infection.
Although the risk of heartworm infection varies from state-to-state, heartworm
disease has been identified in all of the contiguous 48 states and Hawaii.
Heartworm Life Cycle
Since the first diagnosis of canine heartworm disease over one hundred years
ago, heartworm infection has been widely recognized throughout the world as
one of the major health problems affecting pets today.
Heartworm infection is caused by worms ( Dirofilaria immitis) that may grow to
be 14-inch-long adults. These adult worms live in the right side of the heart and
the arteries of the lungs. Heartworm infection can cause serious damage to
these arteries, eventually leading to heart failure, and in severe cases, damage
to other organs such as the liver and kidneys. Dogs of any age and breed are
susceptible to contracting heartworm disease.
While cats appear to be more resistant to heartworm infection than dogs, with
fewer worms surviving into adulthood, they are still susceptible to infection and
can also suffer from the effects of heartworm disease. However, they do not
contribute significantly to spreading the infection.
Although the risk of heartworm infection varies from state-to-state, heartworm
disease has been identified in all of the contiguous 48 states and Hawaii.
Heartworm Life Cycle
Click to go: Articles > Heartworm Disease - A Serious Threat
Heartworm infection is spread from animal to animal by mosquitoes. Dogs, cats, ferrets,
coyotes, foxes, wolves, sea lions and even humans have all been found to be infected
by heartworm. Adult female heartworms release their young, called microfilariae, into
the animal's bloodstream. Mosquitoes then become infected with microfilariae while
taking a blood meal from an infected animal. During the next 10 to 14 days, the
microfilariae mature to the infective larval stage within the mosquito. When the
mosquito bites another dog, cat, or other susceptible animal, the infective larvae enter
through the bite wound. In dogs, it then takes a little over six months for the infective
larvae to mature into adult worms that may live for five to seven years in dogs. In cats,
it takes about eight months to mature into adult worms that live from two to three years.
Microfilariae cannot mature into adult heartworms without first passing through a
mosquito.
Signs of Heartworm Disease
For both dogs and cats, clinical signs of heartworm disease may not be recognized in
the early stages, as heartworms tend to accumulate gradually over a period of months
and sometimes years and repeated mosquito bites. In dogs, recently infected animals
may exhibit no signs of the disease, while heavily infected animals may eventually show
clinical signs, including mild, persistent cough, reluctance to move or exercise,
tiredness after only moderate exercise, reduced appetite, and weight loss.
Severe cases of the disease in dogs may lead to heart failure, most often recognized
by a "swollen belly" caused by accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. "Caval
Syndrome," a form of liver failure, is also a potential serious complication, causing
dogs to become weak very rapidly and turning their urine dark brown. This is a
life-threatening situation that prompts surgical removal of the worms.
Cats may exhibit clinic signs that are very non-specific, mimicking many other feline
diseases. Chronic clinical signs include vomiting, gagging, difficulty breathing or rapid
breathing, lethargy and weight loss. Infected cats may die acutely without allowing time
for diagnosis or proper treatment.
Detecting Heartworm Infection
Detection of heartworm infection in apparently healthy animals is usually made with
blood tests for microfilariae or a heartworm substance called an " antigen," although
neither test is consistently positive until about seven months after infection has
occurred.
Diagnosis of heartworm infection may also be detected through x-ray and/or
ultrasound images of the heart and lungs, although these tests are usually used in
animals that are known to be infected.
Treatment
In dogs, most cases of advanced heartworm disease can be successfully treated with a
drug called an adulticide that is injected into the muscle. A series of injections are
given to dogs who have received a thorough examination to assess the risk of the
treatment. Hospitalization is usually recommended during treatment, but treatment can
also be performed on an outpatient basis. During the duration of the recovery period
lasting one to two months, it is essential that exercise for the pet be limited to leash
walking, decreasing the risk of partial or complete blockage of blood flow through the
lungs by dead worms.
Dogs in heart failure and those with caval syndrome (a form of liver failure) require
special attention. Reinfection is prevented by administering a heartworm preventative.
Some also eliminate microfilariae if they are present.
Currently, there are no products in the United States approved for the treatment of
heartworm infection in cats. Cats have proven to be more resistant hosts to heartworm
than dogs, and often appear to be able to rid themselves of infection spontaneously. In
severe cases of the disease, veterinarians will treat an infected cat with supportive
therapy measures.
Prevention
Although heartworm infection can cause serious complications in pets, it can be
prevented. For dogs, there are a variety of options for preventing heartworm infection,
including an injectable administered by your veterinarian that provides protection for
six months, daily and monthly tablets and chewables, and monthly topicals. All of these
methods are extremely effective and when the drugs are administered properly on a
timely schedule, heartworm infection can be completely prevented.
In cats, there are three products currently approved to prevent heartworm infection,
two oral and one topical medication. All three are virtually completely effective in
preventing the development of adult heartworms when administered correctly.
Heartworm medications work by halting heartworm development before the adult worms
reach the lungs and cause disease. Compared to the cost of treating an animal with
mature adult heartworms, heartworm prevention is safe, easy and inexpensive.
Retesting
Periodic retesting is important for monitoring the success of any heartworm prevention
program. It is recommended that pet owners discuss with their veterinarian what testing
procedures are appropriate for their pet.
Founded during the Heartworm Symposium of 1974, the American Heartworm Society
was formed to facilitate and encourage the generation and dissemination of
information about heartworm disease and encourage adoption of standardized
procedures for its diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The Society stimulates and
financially supports research, which furthers knowledge and understanding of the
disease. Its headquarters is located in Batavia, Illinois.
coyotes, foxes, wolves, sea lions and even humans have all been found to be infected
by heartworm. Adult female heartworms release their young, called microfilariae, into
the animal's bloodstream. Mosquitoes then become infected with microfilariae while
taking a blood meal from an infected animal. During the next 10 to 14 days, the
microfilariae mature to the infective larval stage within the mosquito. When the
mosquito bites another dog, cat, or other susceptible animal, the infective larvae enter
through the bite wound. In dogs, it then takes a little over six months for the infective
larvae to mature into adult worms that may live for five to seven years in dogs. In cats,
it takes about eight months to mature into adult worms that live from two to three years.
Microfilariae cannot mature into adult heartworms without first passing through a
mosquito.
Signs of Heartworm Disease
For both dogs and cats, clinical signs of heartworm disease may not be recognized in
the early stages, as heartworms tend to accumulate gradually over a period of months
and sometimes years and repeated mosquito bites. In dogs, recently infected animals
may exhibit no signs of the disease, while heavily infected animals may eventually show
clinical signs, including mild, persistent cough, reluctance to move or exercise,
tiredness after only moderate exercise, reduced appetite, and weight loss.
Severe cases of the disease in dogs may lead to heart failure, most often recognized
by a "swollen belly" caused by accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. "Caval
Syndrome," a form of liver failure, is also a potential serious complication, causing
dogs to become weak very rapidly and turning their urine dark brown. This is a
life-threatening situation that prompts surgical removal of the worms.
Cats may exhibit clinic signs that are very non-specific, mimicking many other feline
diseases. Chronic clinical signs include vomiting, gagging, difficulty breathing or rapid
breathing, lethargy and weight loss. Infected cats may die acutely without allowing time
for diagnosis or proper treatment.
Detecting Heartworm Infection
Detection of heartworm infection in apparently healthy animals is usually made with
blood tests for microfilariae or a heartworm substance called an " antigen," although
neither test is consistently positive until about seven months after infection has
occurred.
Diagnosis of heartworm infection may also be detected through x-ray and/or
ultrasound images of the heart and lungs, although these tests are usually used in
animals that are known to be infected.
Treatment
In dogs, most cases of advanced heartworm disease can be successfully treated with a
drug called an adulticide that is injected into the muscle. A series of injections are
given to dogs who have received a thorough examination to assess the risk of the
treatment. Hospitalization is usually recommended during treatment, but treatment can
also be performed on an outpatient basis. During the duration of the recovery period
lasting one to two months, it is essential that exercise for the pet be limited to leash
walking, decreasing the risk of partial or complete blockage of blood flow through the
lungs by dead worms.
Dogs in heart failure and those with caval syndrome (a form of liver failure) require
special attention. Reinfection is prevented by administering a heartworm preventative.
Some also eliminate microfilariae if they are present.
Currently, there are no products in the United States approved for the treatment of
heartworm infection in cats. Cats have proven to be more resistant hosts to heartworm
than dogs, and often appear to be able to rid themselves of infection spontaneously. In
severe cases of the disease, veterinarians will treat an infected cat with supportive
therapy measures.
Prevention
Although heartworm infection can cause serious complications in pets, it can be
prevented. For dogs, there are a variety of options for preventing heartworm infection,
including an injectable administered by your veterinarian that provides protection for
six months, daily and monthly tablets and chewables, and monthly topicals. All of these
methods are extremely effective and when the drugs are administered properly on a
timely schedule, heartworm infection can be completely prevented.
In cats, there are three products currently approved to prevent heartworm infection,
two oral and one topical medication. All three are virtually completely effective in
preventing the development of adult heartworms when administered correctly.
Heartworm medications work by halting heartworm development before the adult worms
reach the lungs and cause disease. Compared to the cost of treating an animal with
mature adult heartworms, heartworm prevention is safe, easy and inexpensive.
Retesting
Periodic retesting is important for monitoring the success of any heartworm prevention
program. It is recommended that pet owners discuss with their veterinarian what testing
procedures are appropriate for their pet.
Founded during the Heartworm Symposium of 1974, the American Heartworm Society
was formed to facilitate and encourage the generation and dissemination of
information about heartworm disease and encourage adoption of standardized
procedures for its diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The Society stimulates and
financially supports research, which furthers knowledge and understanding of the
disease. Its headquarters is located in Batavia, Illinois.
